Advanced Oncotherapy Plc (LON:AVO), the developer of next-generation proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, announced today that it has finalised the details of the contract for manufacturing the first LIGHT machine with Thales. This forms part of the partnership with Thales that was announced in February 2016.
Thales has selected one of its factories located in France, to house the first manufacturing line. The line is located in a 2,800sqm building and consists of two configuration and test production lines for the linear accelerator, along with one test and development area for the treatment room. In addition, Thales has already started to carry out high power RF testing and conditioning of accelerating modules and sub-systems in its Velizy site near Paris.
This step is an important milestone in the Company’s long-term commercialisation plan and is a natural progression in the partnership between Advanced Oncotherapy and Thales.
Thales is completing the engineering studies needed to optimise the integration processes, with the view of setting up a cost-efficient manufacturing platform for the production of the machines. The cost of these activities is funded by Advanced Oncotherapy and will be recovered through the retention of 100% of the gross margin on the first LIGHT machines produced.
Thales intends to organise the series production so as to drive down costs, whilst operating under an appropriate quality framework.
Thales is a well-established manufacturer of high RF energy equipment including klystrons, electron tubes, amplifiers and X-ray detectors, as well as synchrotrons, accelerators and advanced medical imaging equipment. The cooperation offers Advanced Oncotherapy access to its unique execution and engineering skills to manage the transition from prototype to a series production manufacturing line, as well as cost reduction capabilities.
Commenting, Nicolas Serandour, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Oncotherapy Plc, said: “This agreement with Thales is a clear validation of all the work done by both companies since we started our collaboration in February. It is also a great testimony of our common ambition and vision to make proton therapy available to as wide a population as possible throughout the world. The factory will allow us to produce eight machines per year, which is important as we continue building a very large and promising pipeline.”
Eric Huber, Managing Director of Large Instruments activity at Thales, commented: “Wherever safety and security are critical, Thales delivers. We feel that our work on the LIGHT accelerator is a natural extension of our activities in high RF energy equipment and systems. We believe Advanced Oncotherapy’s smarter proton therapy solution will create a more effective, targeted cancer treatment.”
